Exhumation is the lawful digging out and examination of a buried dead body from the grave for medicolegal purposes.
Objectives
- Identification of the deceased.
- Determination of cause of death.
- Detection of poisoning.
- Detection of injuries.
- Collection of evidence.
- Resolution of doubts regarding manner of death.
Indications
- Suspicion of homicide.
- Suspected poisoning.
- Doubt regarding cause of death.
- Identification of an unknown body.
- Fresh evidence arising after burial.
- Court order requiring re-examination.
Authority for Exhumation (India)
- Ordered by an Executive Magistrate.
- Usually conducted in the presence of: Executive Magistrate, police officer, and medical officer.